Avoiding ethical issues in business always starts with senior management. Providing clearly written policies and processes that ensure that these guidelines are both recognized and adhered to can ensure transparency and ethical business practices. Businesses of all sizes rely on communication in its many forms – personal, print and digital – to help managers, employees and customers understand what needs to be done and how it needs to be done. At the same time, corporate communications are largely unregulated. This leaves room for creative, misleading and sometimes false news. Where do you draw the line? Ethics can provide the answer. Some companies might be tempted to use verbose language and jargon to impress their audience. However, don`t fall into the trap of “sesdodge chatter” (AKA uses big words to sound smarter). In fact, studies show that using long, complex words unnecessarily makes you look less intelligent. The most likely outcome is that recipients simply don`t understand what you`re trying to say. Ultimately, this leads them to wonder if you`re deliberately misleading them and questioning your business ethics. The job of an organizational communications professional is to develop communication plans aimed at rebuilding trust not only in the organization, but also in leaders and all the people who work for them, by verbally promoting ethical behaviors and creating communication spaces that help support institutional values.
Communication that is offensive to the recipient or to those affected by the information contained in the message violates ethical communication guidelines. Communication may offend others because of references to race, gender, income level, background, or education level. Stories and jokes are great examples of communication that have the potential to offend recipients. Any topic that others might be sensitive to should be avoided in corporate communications, including religious and political issues, to avoid offending others and potentially committing a violation of communication ethics. Despite rapid technological advances, not everyone can reliably access the internet or devices. Some audiences may have access to the technology, but a limited understanding of its functionality. Companies should think about the forms of communication that their target audience typically uses and strive to communicate through these channels. It is not only a way to communicate ethically, but also an effective marketing strategy to meet customers where they are, even if it is not in the digital realm. Companies can also leverage printing resources and in-person training to bridge the technology gap between employees.
Financial reporting can be considered a form of corporate communication, as it involves the formal presentation of information to investors, regulators and the general public. Using fraudulent accounting practices to distort a company`s finances is a weighty legal issue that can result in lawsuits, fines, or even criminal charges, not to mention damaging a company`s brand reputation. It is one of the most regulated areas of corporate communication and particularly important for listed companies. Many commercial contracts contain confidentiality clauses. Rape them, and society can end up at the end of an infringement lawsuit, which will likely include a claim for monetary damages, reports Edward Allen Law. False statements about someone could lead to areas of defamation, which can lead to lawsuits and damage to the company`s reputation. Your current and potential employees are a diverse pool of people who deserve to have their differences respected when they decide to work for your company. An ethical response to diversity begins with recruiting a diverse workforce, enforcing equal opportunity in all training programs, and is realized when every employee is able to enjoy a respectful work environment that values their contribution. Maximizing the value of each employee`s contribution is a key part of your company`s success. For ethical communication to be practiced in an organization, management must consider the following: Corporate communication can take many forms, including sales pitches, marketing messages, press releases, and even corporate meetings, depending on the audience and communication medium.
Business communication skills usually focus on building relationships and achieving productive results, but the legal aspect must also be considered. Some areas of commercial communication are strictly regulated by law, while others can lead to potentially dangerous civil litigation. Understanding the legal framework within which business communicators operate is essential for business owners, managers, and frontline employees. A useful method for researching ethical dilemmas and identifying ethical options for action is to gather the facts, evaluate alternatives, make a decision, test the fairness of the decision, and reflect on the outcome. Ethical decision-making processes should focus on protecting workers` and customers` rights, ensuring fair and equitable business transactions, protecting the common good, and protecting workers` individual values and beliefs. Harassment and discrimination are arguably the biggest ethical issues facing business owners today. If harassment or discrimination occurs in the workplace, the result can be disastrous for your business, both financially and reputationally. Your customers and customers entrust your company with their personal data, which you have an ethical duty to protect.
However, before sharing information, customers need to make sure their data is safe in the hands of your company. Ironically, the best way to protect sensitive data is to be open and transparent. Inform your customers about the data you collect from them and why, with a clear privacy policy.